यदि प्रीतेन मे दत्तं संशये जीवितस्य वा। विद्याधं श्रुतं वाऽपि न तद्गन्धर्व रोचये
If what was given to me with joy, or even at the risk of life, is knowledge or learning, I do not desire that from the Gandharva.
संयोगो वै प्रीतिकरो महत्सु प्रतिदृश्यते। जीवितस्य प्रदानेन प्रीतो विद्यां ददामि ते
Union that brings joy is seen among the great; pleased by the gift of life, I will give you knowledge.
त्वत्तोऽप्यहं ग्रहीष्यामि अस्त्रमाग्नेयमुत्तमम्। तथैव योग्यं बीभत्सो चिराय मरतर्षभ
From you, too, I will receive the supreme missile of Agni, suitable for use, O mighty-armed one, for a long time, O bull among men.
त्वत्तोऽस्त्रेण वृणोम्यश्वान्संयोगः शास्वतोऽस्तुनौ। सखे तद्ब्रूहि गन्धर्व युष्मभ्यो यद्भयं भवेत्
In exchange for the weapon, I request horses from you; let our alliance be enduring. Friend, tell me, Gandharva, what danger may come from you all.
कारणं ब्रूहि गन्धर्व किं तद्येन स्म धर्षिताः। यान्तो वेदविदः सर्वे सन्तो रात्रावरिन्दमाः
Tell me the reason, Gandharva, what is it by which we have been overpowered, though all the learned in the Vedas, the virtuous, were proceeding at night?
अनग्नयोऽनाहुतयो न च विप्रपुरस्कृताः। यूयं ततो धर्षिताः स्थ मया वै पाण्डुनन्दनाः
You were without fire, without offerings, and not led by a brahmin; therefore, O son of Pandu, you were overpowered by me.
यक्षराक्षसगन्धर्वपिशाचपतगोरगाः। धर्षन्ति नरव्याघ्र न ब्राह्मणपुरस्कृतान्
Yakshas, rakshasas, gandharvas, pishachas, birds, and serpents overpower not those who are led by a brahmin, O tiger among men.
जानतापि मया तस्मात्तेजश्चाभिजनं च वः। इयमग्निमतां श्रेष्ठ धर्षिता वै पुरागतिः
Though I knew your energy and lineage, O best of those who honor fire, this was the ancient custom of overpowering.
को हि वस्त्रिषु लोकेषु न वेद भरतर्षभ। स्वैर्गुणैर्विस्तृतं श्रीमद्यशोऽग्र्यं भूरिवर्चसाम्
Who in these worlds, O best of the Bharatas, does not know your illustrious fame, spread by your own virtues, among those of great splendor?
यक्षराक्षसगन्धर्वाः पिशाचोरगदानवाः। विस्तरं कुरुवंशस्य धीमन्तः कथयन्ति ते
Yakshas, rakshasas, gandharvas, pishachas, serpents, and danavas—all the wise among them recount in detail the glory of the Kuru lineage.
नारदप्रभृतीनां तु देवर्षीणां मया श्रुतम्। गुणान्कथयतां वीर पूर्वेषां तव धीमताम्
I have heard from the divine sages, beginning with Narada, as they spoke of the virtues of your wise ancestors, O hero.
स्वयं चापि मया दृष्टश्चरता सागराम्बराम्। इमां वसुमतीं कृत्स्नां प्रभावः सुकुलस्य ते
And I myself have seen, as I traveled the earth and the ocean, the power of your noble house, throughout this entire world.
वेदे धनुषि चाचार्यमभिजानामि तेऽर्जुन। विश्रुतं त्रिषु लोकेषु भारद्वाजं यशस्विनम्
In the Veda and in archery, I recognize your teacher, O Arjuna—renowned in the three worlds, the illustrious Bharadvaja.
सर्ववेदविदां श्रेष्ठं सर्वशस्त्रभृतां वरम्। द्रोणमिष्वस्त्रकुशलं धनुष्यह्गिरसां वरम्
Drona, the best among those who know all the Vedas, the foremost of all weapon-bearers, skilled in the science of archery, and the best among the descendants of Angiras.
धर्मं वायुं च शक्रं च विजानाम्यश्विनौ तथा। पाण्डुं च कुरुशार्दूल षडेतान्कुरुवर्धनान्। पितॄनेतानहं पार्थ देवमानुषसत्तमान्
O tiger of the Kurus, I know Dharma, Vayu, Shakra, the Ashvins, and Pandu—these six enhancers of the Kuru line; O Partha, I am the leader of the ancestors, both divine and human, the best among beings.
दिव्यात्मानो महात्मानः सर्वशस्त्रभृतां वराः। भवन्तो भ्रातरः शूराः सर्वे सुचरितव्रताः
They are divine souls, great in spirit, foremost among all wielders of weapons; you brothers are all valiant and steadfast in noble vows.
उत्तमां च मनोबुद्धिं भवतां भावितात्मनाम्। जानन्नपि च वः पार्थ कृतवानिह धर्षणाम्
Knowing well your supreme mind and intellect, O Partha, you who are noble in spirit, yet even so I have committed this outrage here.
स्त्रीसकाशे च कौरव्य न पुमान्क्षन्तुमर्हति। धर्षणामात्मनः पश्यन्ब्राहुद्रविणमाश्रितः
In the presence of women, O Kaurava, no man should tolerate an insult to himself, especially one who relies on strength and wealth.
नक्तं च बलमस्माकं भूय एवाभिवर्धते। यतस्ततो मां कौन्तेय सदारं मन्युराविशत्
At night, our strength grows even greater; therefore, O son of Kunti, anger always seizes me and my wife.
सोऽहं त्वयेह विजितः सङ्ख्ये तापत्यवर्धन। येन तेनेह विधिना कीर्त्यमानं निबोध मे
Thus, O increaser of the Tapatya line, I have been defeated by you here in battle; listen to the reason why this has happened to me, as it is recounted.
ब्रह्मचर्यं परो धर्मः स चापि नियतस्त्वयि। यस्मात्तस्मादहं पार्थ रणे।ञस्मि विजितस्त्वया
Supreme is the vow of celibacy, and that is firmly established in you; therefore, O Partha, I have been conquered by you in battle.
यस्तु स्यात्क्षत्रियः कश्चित्कामवृत्तः परन्तप। नक्तं च युधि युध्येत न स जीवेत्कथंचन
Any Kshatriya who is driven by desire and fights at night in battle would never survive, O subduer of foes.
यस्तु स्यात्कामवृत्तोऽपि पार्थ ब्रह्मपुरस्कृतः। जयेन्नक्तञ्चरान्सर्वान्स पुरोहितधूर्गतः
But even one who is driven by desire, O Partha, if he is guided by Brahman and accompanied by a priest, can defeat all night-roaming foes.
तस्मात्तापत्य यत्किंचिन्नृणां श्रेय इहेप्सितम्। तस्मिन्कर्मणि योक्तव्या दान्तात्मानः पुरोहिताः
Therefore, whatever benefit is sought by men in this world, in that action self-controlled priests should be engaged.
वेदे षडङ्गे निरताः शुचयः सत्यवादिनः। धर्मात्यागः कृतात्मानः स्युर्नृपाणां पुरोहिताः
Priests of kings should be devoted to the Vedas and their six limbs, pure, speakers of truth, steadfast in righteousness, and disciplined in self-control.
जयश्च नियतो राज्ञः स्वर्गश्च तदनन्तरम्। यस्य स्याद्धर्मविद्वाग्मी पुरोधाः शीलवाञ्शुचिः
Victory is assured for the king, and heaven thereafter, whose priest is learned in dharma, eloquent, virtuous, and pure.
लाभं लब्धुमलब्धं वा लब्धं वा परिरक्षितुम्। पुरोहितं प्रकुर्वीत राजा गुणसमन्वितम्
Whether gain has been achieved or not, or to protect what has been gained, a king should appoint as priest one endowed with virtues.
पुरोहितमते तिष्ठेद्य इच्छेद्भूतिमात्मनः। प्राप्तुं वसुमतीं सर्वां सर्वशः सागराम्बराम्
He who desires prosperity for himself and wishes to obtain the entire earth, bounded by the sea, should act according to the counsel of his priest.
न हि केवलशौर्येण तापत्याभिजनेन च। जयेदब्राह्मणः कश्चिद्भूमिं भूमिपतिः क्वचित्
For by mere valor or noble birth alone, no king who is not guided by a Brahmin ever conquers the earth anywhere.
तस्मादेवं विजानीहि कुरूणां वंशवर्धन। ब्राह्मणप्रमुखं राज्यं शक्यं पालयितुं चिरम्
Therefore, understand thus, O enhancer of the Kuru line: a kingdom led by Brahmins can be preserved for a long time.